Document camera and printer



V. E. PRATT El' AL DOCUMENT CAMERA AND PRINTER Jan. 27, 1943.

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Jan. 27,` 1948. v. E. PRATT ETVAL DOCUMENT CAMERA AND PRINTER Filed Oct. 28, 1943 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Full E- INVENTORS.

VERNEUR E. PRH TT EEUREE F. ERFIY Jan. 27, 1948. v. E. PRATT E'r-Al. 2,435,099

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Patented Jan. 27, 1948 2.435.099 DOCUMENT CAMERA AND PRINTER Verncur E. Pratt and George F. Gray, Norwalk, Conn.; said Gray assigner to said Pratt Application October 28, 1943, Serial No. 507,939

12 Claims. (Cl. .8S-24) `able units ready for use without further assembly or connection when in the cabinet.

The device herein described, by way of disclosing a preferred embodiment of the invention$7 is particularly adapted to the production of what is commonly termed microfilm and employs standard 16 or 35 mm. film either perforated or unperforated along its edges, and on which is photographed checks, letters or any other papers or objects that can be fed into the machine. Each object such, for example, as a. letter (hereinafter termed the sheet) is automatically positioned below the camera lens, an exposure made, the sheet discharged to a magazine, a second sheet posi- .tloned in the eld of the lens, an exposure made,

and so on, as long as the machine is in operation,

the only attendance necessary being the placing of the sheets on the feed table, all other operations being fully automatic and the sheet and hlm being in continuous motion While the camera is in operation. Such devices are often termed continuous flow cameras.

Many of the devices heretofore designed for this purpose consisted of a feeder, some means for positioning the sheet in the eld ofthe lens, and

a camera to photograph the sheet so positioned.'

These separate devices were in some cases independently controlled, requiring the operator to manipulate various switches or the like when photographing each sheet, or when connected t- 'gether for automatic operation, the camera mechgan-ism was operated by belts, gearing or the like 'from the same source of power that operated the ieeder or the sheet positioning means, (hereinafter termed the platen mechanism) In connection with photographs of ordinary size, or Where the reduction is slight, inaccuracies in the relative positioning of the film and sheet brought about by belt slippage, gear backlash and other inequalities in the mechanical power transmitting means between the parts, could be ignored, but in microfilming, these inequalities causes are eliminated and registry is greatlyimproved as compared with other methods of interconnecting the camera with the other parts. This invention also provides a simple and cheap method of producing positive prints from a negative lm, in which the necessary readjustment of the parts of the camera to change it from a straight photographic camera toa contact printer are reduced to a minimum and where no change in the location and arrangement of the light source is necessary, the same light scrurcebeing used for contact printing as Well as for image photography. This is another object of the invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact business machine that may form one of a. bank of filing cabinets as it conformsV in outward appearance thereto.

Several of the component parts herein described constitute improvements over like parts heretofore used for the same purpose, and irrespective of the fact that these improved parts are assembled and interconnected to form a complete apparatus for'the purposes described. For example, Ythe improved feeding mechanism herein described may he used anywhere Where such feeding mechanisms are applicable, the improved interconnecting means between the platen mechanism and the camera per se may be used between any form of platen mechanism endany camera as well as with those shown. Therefore, further objects of the invention are to improve and cheapen the construction of the component parts.

The method of operation herein disclosed enables the camera to be operated in absolute synchronism with the platen by electrical means, thereby eliminating many of the aforementioned defects that arise in devices of this character where belt, gear and other mechanical drives are employed to interconnect the camera and platen mechanism, or feeding device.

This method further eliminates contact trouble in the controls, as by this method the current employed at the contact lingers operated by the sheets fed the device is negligible as compared with other methods.

Other objects and advantages of the method will more fully hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of mechanism for carrying out this improved method or process: A

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a complete cabinet with the units in place;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure l;

Figure 3 is aperspective view of the cabinet,

3 Figure 1, with feed table in place and the cabinet A open for use;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the camera unit on the line 4-4, Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 4, on line I-l. Figure 1;

Figure 6 is sectional view of the camera unit on line 6 8, Figure 1;

Figure 7 isfplan view of Figure 6 on line 1-1, Figure 1;

Figure 8 is sectional view on line 8 8, Figure 6;

Figure 9 is perspective view of the camera unit removed from the cabinet;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the feeding and platen units on line Ill-I 0, Figure 2;

Figure 11 is enlarged longitudinal sectional view on the line II--I l, Figure 10;

Figure 12 is side elevation, sectional view on line |2-I2, Figure 10;

Figure 13 is sectional v iew on line i3-I3, Fig ure 10;

Figure 14 is under plan view of feed table only, Figure 10;

Figure 15 is a sectional view of a feed finger, on line I5-I5, Figure 10;

Figure 16 is side elevational view of the feed table;

Figure 1'? is perspective view of an alternate form of feed table;

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic drawing of the camera used as a. contact printer;

Figure 19.is side elevation of the light tunnel unit;

Figure 20 is cross sectional view on line 20-20, Figure 19;

Figure 21 is a diagram of electrical devices andY circuits employed in the device; and

Figure 22 is a diagram illustrating the flow of sheets through the device illustrated in the preceding figures.

Referring to Figure 1 the numeral Il generally denotes a framework or cabinet which may be of the same general dimensions and appearances as an ordinary 3 or 4 drawer flle cabinetso that it may be placed with other like cabinets in an omce to present a uniform appearance. As the detailed construction of such cabinets is well known and may be varied within wide limits, the cabinet construction will not be referred to in detail.

Camera unit and driving mechanism therefor control mechanism may be mounted, although these control devices can be mounted on the other units of the device if desired. The front base, frame members, carriage assembly and rear plate are secured together in any suitable manner.

A longitudinal vertical mounting plate I1 extends from the front 3i to the rear plate II and may be secured to these plates and to the base 32. This plate divides the unit into two compartments indicated at 38, 39 in Figure 8. 'I'he compartment 28 contains the driving and clutch control mechanism for operating' the camera, and compartment I! contains the nlm reels. drive and Covers 4I, 4i are hinged at 42 to the mounting plate I1 (or attached to the unit in any suitable manner) and extend over and close the compartments Il, 39 as shown in Figures 8 and 9 and these covers can be made sufficiently close fitting to prevent the entrance of light to either or both the compartments I8, I9.

The camera driving mechanism comprises a suitable motor 43 which may have a built-,in gear reducer if desired. Such gear reducer usually employs worms and can be made free from back lash. The motor is preferably a synchronous motor for reasons hereinafter stated and is mounted upon the base 32 or in any suitable manner. A mounting bracket 44 is shown in Figure 6 and may be suiiiciently resilient to act as a vibration damper to` eliminate vibration and noise and it will be understood that any form of resilient mounting may,` be used. The posts 44 may be of rubber to aid in reducing vibration.

If desired, a second resiliently mounted motor 4I may also be employed having a diiferent speed from motor 43. This is desirable when using the camera as a contact printer. By moving the driving belt 4I from one motor to the other the speed of the film can be changed.

While it is obvious that more than one speed can be obtained from a single motor by the interposition of suitable mechanical speed reducers between the motor and the driven pulley 41, such devices are complicated, noisy. introduce backlash and are usually. more expensive than two motors.

The motors are provided with driving pulleys u 48 over either of which the belt 4I passes to the driven pulley 41 on shaft Il supported in bearing 4l in the bracket I0 secured to the base 32 and plate I1 as shown in Figure 7.

Shaft Il has secured to its inner end, the driving member I2 of a clutch having a plurality of teeth Il on its engaging face. The laterally movable driven member I4 of the clutch also has teeth II on its engaging face and is urged to the left, Figure 8, by a compressed spring II carried on a shaft I1, the' clutch end of which is splined to slidably support the member I4 to be rotatably driven thereby.

The clutch construction here shown is merely by way of illustration, and any suitable clutching mechanism may be employed.

'I'he shaft I1 extends through the plate I1 and is supported in a suitable bearing I8 therein and carries on its outer end in the compartment II. the film drive roller I9.

A suitable electrically operated clutch operating device such as the solenoid II has a plunger core Il having a pin I2'I engaging the arm I2 supported on the bracket Il mounted on plate 81. This arm has a forked end I2'I which rests on the outer flange of the driven member I4 of the clutch which is thereby held out of engagement (against the urge of spring II) with the driven member I2 whenthe core Il of the solenoid is in the position shown in Figure 8, the solenoid being energized. The arm 62 is connected at its lower end to the tension spring I4 so that when the clutch members I2, I4 are brought into engagement by spring II, which occurs when the solenoid is deenergized, the core Ii via pin I2* is pulled outwardlybyarm I2 andspringusoastobein position for re-operation.` The belts I4, I4 drive thelsusual take-up pulleys on the film take-up ree The camera mechanism in compartment Il as guide rollers, nlm drums and lens mounting. 'Il shown in Figure 4 comprises the nlm drive roller from the plate 31, the rollers 65, 66,61 and drum 89 being freely rotatable on said shafts.

Film reel supports 69, 10, 1 I 12 are provided for the reception of the usual film reels 14, 18 and any light sensitive medium such as the film 13 may be taken from reel 14 passed over the guide roller 61, which has a spring (not shown) urging it in the direction of the arrow 61a around drive roller 59, drum 88, roller 65, roller 88 (which ls spring-pressed like 61)\ and `finally wound up on reel 15. The latter reel may-by its supporting shaft or in any other suitable mannerbe driven in usual manner to take up slack film as it is unwound from reel 14.

The camera mechanism just described is merely illustrative; any suitable mechanism may be employed to unwind the film continuously past the lens.

4The lens tube 16 is slidably mounted on the base 32 so asto be easily removable from the compartment 39 and contains -a suitable lens adapted to project an image on the film 13 where same passes a slot 11r in the upper end of the lens tube.'

Camera unit used as a printer When used as a printer, the negative film 13 is arranged as shown in Figure 18, the reels 14, 15 being mounted on the lower shafts 1l, 12 and the positive film reels 18, 19 being mounted on the upper shafts 69, 10. Guide rollers 80, 8|, 82, 83 are provided for the negative film which is supported thereon so it will be held out 0f contact with the positive film 13a except on a section of the surface of drum 68 above the slot 11. This arrangement of the films permits them to be unwound together and carried past the slot 11 for exposure, without relative slippage, the exposure being made by reason of the light passing up the lens tube (the lens having been removed or a suitable lens being used) and through the slot 11 and through negative film 13 to expose positive film 139.

Removability of camera unit of the unit so that when the unit is in its normal place in the cabinet, the connections will be automatically completed. As the details of such an arrangement are obvious, it is not here described in detail.

A switch 9| is mounted at some convenient piace, such as on the plate 31 (Figure 4) and has an arm 92 carrying a small roller 93 which normally bears on the surface of the film 13. One of the rollers such as 65 is grooved as shown at B5 in Figure 5 and the film 13 has a hole in it near its inner end into which the roller 93 may drop, the groove 651i permitting it to do so. This opcrates the buzzer |60 to be presently described.

Control unit and light source' Cabinet 30 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) may be provided with a door 94 simulating the fronts of two of the file drawers and located immediately below the camera unit just described. The control unit 95 is positioned immediately behind this door, and the control unit may be removed from the cabinet the same as the camera unit, that is'to say, it may slide in and out of the cabinet like a drawer carrying with it its associated equipment, or it maybe secured in the cabinet by means of screws as shown at 96.

The panel 95 carries the various switches, rheostat, and other equipment hereafter described in connection with the electrical circuits and also carries electric lamps 91 arranged on each side of the light tunnel 98. The light tunnel, as shownV in Figures 19 and 20 is positioned above the sheet 99 to be photographed, and the rectangular tunnel extends across said sheet the full width of the platen. For example, if the machine is designed to handle papers 81/2 x 11 inches, suchas ordinary letter sheets, the tunnel will extend across the 81A; inch dimension. The lamps .are so positioned that the sheet is illuminated in the zone H8 (Figure 11) immediately below the light tunnel.

The upper end of the tunnel 98 terminates directly below the lens tube 16 as shown in Figure On the rear plate 86, Figure 9, are mounted the` casings 84, 85 of electronic control |54 and its associated relays. These parts and` others such as the motors 43, 45 are wired and connected to the circuits of the device as shown in Figure 21, the circuits to the unit section containing the camera and driving mechanism therefor, termi-` nating in one or more cables 81, 88 provided with quick detachable multiple pin-and-socket connectors 89, 90 of any suitable type. The cables 81, 88 are long enough so that when the unit is pulled forward-like a drawer-out of the cabinet 30, the connectors are made accessible and can be separatedand the unit may then be completely withdrawn from the cabinet. It will be noted there is no mechanical connection such as a belt or driving shaft between this unit and other units or parts of the device, which other parts may remain undisturbed in the cabinet when this unit is removed. Therefore, in case of trouble with the camera unit or its driving mechanism, these parts can be easily removed by the most inexperienced person without disconnecting any wires.- 'I'he quick detachable connections can only be fitted together in the correct position, so itis impossible to reconnect them improperly.

If desired the socket receptaclesBQ, 90* for connectors 89, 90 may be fixed on the framework 4 so that the lens in this tube may scan the iiluminated surfaceof the sheet 99. An aperture |00 is provided in the base 32 of the camera unit to permit light to pass therethrough when the units are in place in the cabinet.

The lamp circuit and all other circuits in the control unit terminate in quick detachable connectors whereby the unit may be disconnected and withdrawn from the cabinet the same as described in connection with the camera unit, and it will be understood that the control unit may jhave a suitable framework like that described and shown in connection with the camera unit,

Figure 9.

In order to utilize all of the light produced by the lamps 91, the surface |0| adjacent said lamps may be made reflecting; that is to say, it may be a suitable mirror having apertures adapted to receive the lamp bases. These mirrors may extend downwardly at each side of the lamp unit, as

indicated at |02, Figure 20, in orderto reflect much light as possible downward on the sheet n Platen unit The platen unit is mounted immediately under the-control unit and may have a front |03- simulating one of the drawers of the file cabinet, or maybe covered by the door 94. This unit has a framework similar to the camera unit, Figure 9, and is slidable in and out of the cabinet 30 the 7 same as the camera unit. Bids plates o! the unit are shown at |04 (Figure 11)..VY These side plates are suitably spaced apart by tie rods |05, and between these side plates the platen mechanism ls mounted.

This mechanism comprises the driving motor |08 which may have a suitable gear reduction mechanism |08* to drive the pulley |01 at suitable speed, and this through belt |08 drives the pulley |00, the shaft of which carries a plurality of suitable pulleys on which there are a plurality of endless belts 1 I0 which pass over a pulley at the outer end of the unit. Individual take-up pulleys ||2 spring-pressed downward at ||3 may be used to take up the slack in each belt so as to keep it tight and flat across the guide rollers |4, 5 so that the upper surfaces of the belts at the point |I5 will form a rigid traveling support for the sheet 88 to be photographed.

At the forward end of this unit and in contact with the belts 0 there are a plurality of idler Abelts passing over the pulleys ||8 ||8 and |20, the two forward pulleys H8, ||0 are mounted in a sub-frame |2| which swings around the axis of the pulley as shown in dotted lines, Figure 11. The belts Il'l are in frictional contact with the belts ||0 and are driven thereby so that a sheet 93 fed into the front of theplaten unit will be grasped by the belts ||0 and and carried across the space ||6 below the light tunnel 08. As the sheet continues to travel to the right, Figure 11, it will be grasped by idler belts |22 carried by the pulleys |23, |24, |25 and |25. Belts |22 are in frictional .contact with the belts ||0 and the paper 99 will therefore be grasped by belts H0 and |22 and carried around the drive pulley |05 between the belts |I0 and |22 and emerge at the point |21, and drop into the storage compartment |28 located in the bottom of the cabinet 30.

The motor |06 is provided with a flexible connecting cord |29is having a quick-detachable plug |29 so that when the entire unit is drawn forward to remove it from the cabinet 30 the electrical connection can be broken to permit the entire unit to be withdrawn without disconnecting any wires, If desired, a receptacle for plug |29 can be mounted to automatically receive |29 when the unit is pushed into the cabinet.

In order to control the operation of the platen unit so that it will only operate when sheets Se are passing through the device, a plurality of switch, feed or contact fingers |80 are mounted on a transverse shaft |30b at the forward end of the machine as shown in Figure l0. These iingers |30 are so designed and constructed that they lie between the belts ||0 and normally occupy the position shown in Figure l5 with their lower ends |3i below the upper surface of the belts. Each finger is individually movable. When the forward end A, Figure 22, one dimension of a sheet 09 is fed into the machine it will pass under the lower ends l3| of the fingers and raise one or more of the fingers to contact bus bar |32 insulatedly mounted in blocks |32, in the frame members. This contact |30 controls the circuits in a manner that will be presently described. This bar |32 has a flexible cable |32c and quickdetachable connections |32l so that this connection may be broken when withdrawing the platen unit from the machine. All of the lingers |30 are electrically connected via their supports |32 and shaft |313b and each linger has its own adjusting screw |30 whereby the position of the end |3| thereof can be adjusted relative to the belts 8 Illand the sheets 88 supported thereby.' when thersarendB-ofasheet,Pigure22,iscarried beyond-to thel right of--the fingers. the circuit is opened. y

Because of the electronic control to be presently described, the fingers |30 where they make contact with bar |82 do not carry any appreciable current (the current being in milli-amperes) which is advantageous as it eliminates arcing and pitting of the contacts and the need of frequent cleaningand adjustment necessary when such contacts are employed in circuits carrying much larger currents.

At the forward end of the platen unit side plates there are notches |33 and |34 to receive the supporting elements of the feeding unit which will now be described. i

Feeding unit The feeding unit (Figures 10,` 11, and 16) comprises a table |35 having any suitable means such as the downw-ardly extending ears |35 adapted to engage the cross bar |31 which lies in the slots |33 of the platen unit and extends across the same. The table |35 is permitted a certain amount of lateral movement and adjustment by this type of mounting. If desired, the outer end of table V|35 can be supportedby means of the rod |38 or side braces |39 may extend down from each side of the table and terminate in pins |40 which engage the slots |34 of the platen unit.

Referring to Figure 10, the table |35 has a series of angular'slots indicated at |4| in which are positioned a plurality of rollers |42. These rollers each have a plurality of resilient sections of rubber or the like indicated at |43 which sections project slightly above the upper surface of the table |35.

The rollers |42 are all in contact with a belt i 44 -(Figure 13) which passes over a pulley |45 driven by motor |45 and over a suitable take-up pulley the under surfaces of all of the rollers 42, another set of rollers |48 is provided immediately below the belt, as shown in Figure 13.

The assembly of the two sets of rollers and the belt is such that all of the rollers |43 are rotated to feed sheets placed on the upper surface of the table |35 inward and to the left as shown in Figure 10, the rubber sections |43 or the rollers tending. because of the rollers being at the angle shown, to feed the sheets towards the left or guide side |49 of the table so that a small piece of paper, such as a check fed endwise through the machine,

, will (before it encounters the belts l it, il? oi the platen mechanism) be at the extreme left, there by insuring that the feed table can always be set to properly register using the extreme left edge |49 thereof as a starting point or guide relative to the optical axis of the camera.

The motor |46 is provided with a flexible cord |46? and a quick-detachable connection |45b. A suitable socket |50 for the connection ib may be mounted in the control panel or on the forward end of the platen unit. lThis socket itt is connected in circuit and controlled by switch |50b as hereafter described.

In the event that a motor driven feed unit as just described is not desired, a plain feeding table |5| may be substituted therefor and its manner of attachment and support may be the same as just described in connection with the motor driven feed unit.

It will be seen that the feeding unit can be so designed and constructed that when not in use it In order to hold this belt in contact with4 can be placed in the lower drawer |20 of the cabinet 30.

Circuits and operation Figure 21 shows the circuits of the complete device and the method of operation will be readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the operation of the mechanism described in connection with the preceding figures.

The apparatus being connected and the various units being in place in the cabinet 30, the plug |52 is connected to a. suitable source of current such as 110 volts, 60 cycle A. C. The main switch |53, which is a three pole, double throw switch has three positions. In the position shown all circuits are disconnected. When the switch is thrown upwardly to .camera the following occurs:

If the motor driven feed table is in use, plug |46b has been inserted in the socket |50 and'motor |46 will operate if feeder switch |50b is closed.

Motor |06 driving the platen mechanism is connected to the circuit via its quick-detachable plug terminals |29 and is therefore ready to operate.

The camera motor 43 connected to the circuit via its quick-detachable plug terminals 80 starts. The thermionic tube or tubes in the electronic control |54 begin to warm up and the following operations can take place:

(a) The film 13 can be advanced by closing aisance lil switch 86 in order to run of! e. protective leader 4 on the film at the start or finish of a roll.

(b) The film '|3 will advance and the lamps will light if any one of the fingers |30 is operated by a sheet 99 to close the circuit to bus bar |32 common to all fingers.

(c) The time delay feature to be presently described governs how soon after a sheet engages a linger |30 to closethe circuit that the lights will respond, and how long after the sheet releases the linger to open the circuit the lights will remain on. This time delay is adjustable so that Upon a sheet l5 making contact with a nger |30 at, A, Figure 22, a time delay T-I (time required to charge condenser |56) is inaugurated through resistor |51. At the end of this time delay period the grid "g is charged and lcurrent iiows in the plate circuit. energizing the magnet of the double throw relay which de-energlzes the camera clutch solenoid 60 allowing the clutch to engage, thereby initiating the camera Aoperation. The relay also energizes the lamp relay i60. Upon the clutch engaging, nlm begins to move and at the same time the lamps 61 come up to brilliance represented by interval T2. This time T2 results in the proper spacing between images on the film.

The sheet progresses until point B (rear end of sheet) releases nger |30 thereby opening the circuit at which time a time delay Ta is inaugurated. The time delay Ta is a function of the discharge of condenser |56 through |51 and |55 to ground. vThis delay keeps relays |55 and |60 closed and allows the sheet to progress completely across the photographic area ||6 before the lights are extinguished and the film stops.

It can be seen, therefore, that the initial delay Ti and the final delay Ta are readily adjustable and independent of each other, although they are both .operated through the one triad of the tube.

The buzzer |6| is normally open until the arm 62 with its roller drops inl 'a hole in the lm as previously described. When this occurs the buzzer will sound notifying the operator in time to allow protective wrappings to be made on the daylight-loading spool by means of the film advance switch 85.

When the camera is to be used as a printer, a piece of white paper is held at the start of the platen and switch |53 is turned to the upward camera position for an instant to draw the the spacing between successive exposures on the iilm can be controlled when changing from one lens and reduction ratio to another. This time delay feature is brought about by the employment of the electronic control |54 which employs a suitable tube such as a SSN? twin triode amplifier each unit acting independently. The upper unit of this tube acts with immediate response both on make and "break upon the opening or closing of the switch fingers |30 to enengize the exposure counter relay |55 operating the counter |55 which may be any suitable form of electrically operated counter.

The lower unit of the tube performs two functions, the first is an electrical delay obtained by charging or discharging the condenser |56 through two resistances |51 and |58, because of the fact that the make or break operations must be accompanied by different relay times. However, as the discharge time is only a fraction of the "charge time this requires the discharge to take place through a much lower resistance and permits the charge resistor |51 tobe left in the circuit continually. In other words, the time rate of discharge is much greater than the rate of charge and the net effect is the time of discharge.

The dual tube circuit in the electronic timer must be used because the counter must count instantaneously each individual piece of paper fed to the machine, even though they are fed at a rate which may keep the lights on continuously, due to the delay circuit.

paper into the machine and under the exposure areaA i6. As soon as the paper is at this point switch |53 is turned to the down or "printer position which dlsengages platen motor |06 leaving the sheet in the exposure area 6. This also disconnects the socket |50 and the motor |46 connected thereto and the camera motor 43, and starts'the printer motor 40. Thus there is no chance of using the unit as a printer without a reflecting sheet under the exposure area.

The main circuit connection |52 may consist of the usual flexible cord and plug extending out of the cabinet 30 in any desired direction preferably from the bottom thereof and the cabinet may be provided with suitable Ventilating holes atvthe top and bottom of the rear.

A motor driven fan |62 may be connected across the main circuit and located atv any suitable place within the cabinet to provide circulation of cool air over the various parts of the apparatus so as to dissipate the'heat of the lamps 91 and prevent it from becoming excessive. Air can be taken into the cabinet at the openings |64 and discharged -at the top at |65. These openings can be in the rear of the cabinet if desired.

A rheostat |63 for controlling the-brilliance of the lamps is preferably mounted on the front of the control panel as shown in Figure 3 and-may have a. dial graduated in a series of steps as shown whereby the lamps may be set for any desired brilliancy.

When the designations Pi, P2, Ps let cetera appear in Figure 21 it will be understood that these are as many as needed of the quick-detachable l1. and location of these connectors can be varied within wide limits without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed.

In the study oi Figure 22 it will be observed that the contact fingers |30 are placed suillciently ahead of the platen mechanism to provide the time T1 to permit charging the condenser |50 in the electronic control butthat the counter |55 operates instantly as soon as the contact |3 is closed by the sheet 99. However, because of the time delay feature, the film 13 does not start until just before the forward edge A" of the sheet B9 reaches the zone H6.

In the meantime the additional time element T2 is provided in order to permit the lamps 81 to come up to full brilliancy before the forward part of sheet A reaches zone lli.

It will also be observed that this time element Tz spaces the images on the nlm by a linear amount of film that can be run oli in interval T2 and that this is run oil without having an image projected thereon, so that'by adjusting this time interval, proper spacing of the film images can be obtained.

As the sheet @e continues to travel to the right, Figure 22, film moves in the opposite direction and the relative rate of travel of the sheet and iilm is constant because the driving motors controlling the movement of both sheet and film are synchronous motors.

The time element 'la is introduced in order to keep `the device at work while the sheet QS is passing across the Zone i iB. As soon as the rear end B of the sheet 85 permits the contact 30 to open, the circuits operate to stop the film and extinguish the lamps.

what is claimed is:

l. 2in a device of the character described, a very tical cabinet-a plurality oi' sets of spaced supports or slides disposed at several different levels within said cabinet, openings formed in said cabinet at said levels, a camera unit supported on one of said sets and adapted to be slidably moved from a. normal position inside the cabinet via the opening at the level of said last set to a position accessible to an operator, a panel rigidly mounted on said unit, movable therewith and adapted to form the external closure for said last mentioned opening when said camera is slid to said normal position, said camera having its optical exis extending downwardly within the cabinet when. the carriera is in said normal position, and a platen unit slidably carried on another of said sets below said carriera, said platen unit being adapted to move documents across said optical axis.

2. In a device of the character described, a vertical cabinet, a plurality of sets of spaced supports or slides disposed at several different levels within said cabinet, all of said sets extending in the same direction within said cabinet, openings formed in one wall ol' said cabinet at said levels, a camera unit supported on one of said sets and adapted to be slidably moved from a normal position inside the cabinet vla the opening at the level of said last set t-o a position accessible to an operator, a panel rigidly mounted on said unit and movable therewith which forms a closure for said last mentioned opening when said camera is slid to said normal position, said camera having its optical axis extending downwardly within the cabinet when the carriera is in said normal position, and a platen unit slidably carried on another of said sets below said camera and adapted to be slid outwardly from its normal po- 12 sitionbelowsaidcameraviaanotherofssid openings, said platen unit being adapted to move documents across said optical axis.

3. ,In a device of the character described, s vertical cabinet, a plurality ot sets o! spaced supports or slides disposed at several dinerent levels within said cabinet, all or said sets extending in the same direction within said cabinet, openings formed in one wall of said cabinet at said levels,l

a camera. unit supported on one ot said sets and adapted to be slidably moved trom a normal position inside the cabinet via the opening at the level of said last set to a position accessible to an operiator, a panel rigidly mounted on said unit, ilush with the vend thereof, which forms a closure for said last mentioned opening when said camera is slid to said normal position, said camera having its optical axis extending downwardly within the cabinet when the camera is in said normal position, a platen unit slidably carried on another of said sets below said camera and adapted to be slid outwardly from its normal position below said camera., said platen unit being adapted to move documents across said optical path, andV means on said cabinet adapted to be engaged by a document feeder for delivering documents to said platen unit.

4. In a device of the character described, a vertical cabinet, a plurality of sets of spaced supports or slides disposed at several different levels within said cabinet, openings formed in said cabinet 'at said levels, a camera unit supported on one of said sets and adapted to be slidably moved from a normal position inside the cabinet via the opening at the level of said last set to a position accessible to an operator or completely removed therefrom, said camera having its optical axis vertical, and including a downwardly directed lens, the eld o: view of which is defined by slit means xediy positioned within said cabinet, said lens being adapted to brought in registration with said slit means when said camera is moved into its normal position within said cabinet, a platen unit slidably carried on another of said sets below said camera, said platen unit being adapted to move documents across said iield ot view, and a motor included in said unit vfor driving said camera.

5; In a device oi' the character described, a vertical cabinet, a plurality of sets ot spaced sup-IA ports or slides disposed at several difIerent levels and extending in the Asame direction within said cabinet, openings formed in one wall oi' said cabinet at said levels, a camera unit supported on one of said sets and adapted to be slidably moved from a normal position inside the cabinet via the opening at the level of said last set to a position outside the cabinet accessible to an operator,

a panel on said unit which forms a closure for said last mentioned opening when the camera is slid into its normal position, said camera having its optical axis vertical, and including `a downwardly directed objective lens, the ileld ol view of which is dened by a funnel-shaped slit' defining means flxedly positioned within the cabinet, said lens being in registration therewith when the camera is in its normal position within the cabinet, a platen unit slidably carried on another of said sets below said camera and adapted to be slid outwardly from its normal position via another set oi' openings, a. document feeder carried on said cabinet in front of said platen for delivering documents thereto, electrical circuits lincluding motors for driving said camera and said platen unit, and instrumentalities for controlling l l 13 o a source of illumination and said motors. and a panel positioned in another opening in said cabinet between said camera and said platen unit, said last panel carrying manual controls for said circuits and instrumentalities, whereby the latter are positioned at the fingertips of the operator feeding documents into said document feeder.

6. In a device of the character described, a vertical cabinet, a plurality of sets of spaced supports or slides disposed at several levels and extending within the same direction within said cabinet, rectangular openings formed in one wall of said cabinet and having their bottom edges slightly below said levels, a camera unit sup'- ported on theAV upper of said sets and including a driving motor, said camera normally having its field of view -extending vertically downward within said cabinet. a control panel including switches, an illumination control mounted on another of said sets below said camera, platen mechanism mounted on a third ofsaid sets below said control panel, said platen mechanism including a drive motor and adapted to receive sheets conveyed thereto and carry the same across the field of view of said camera, a light source behind said control panel for illuminating sheets on said platen as they pass through said field of view, a slit image defining light tunnel rigidly mounted in said cabinet, extending downwardly from said camera and limiting said field of view, the lower end of said light tunnel extending below said light source and terminating near said platen mechanism, engaging means mounted on said cabinet adjacent to the outer end of said platen mechanism, and a document feeder engaging said supaccadono s having its' inner face secured to both one end of ports and positioned in front of said platen and adjacentto said control panel for delivering documents to said platen mechanism, whereby an operator feeding documents into said document feeder has said control panel at his fingertips.

1. In a device according to claim 6, in which a lower set of spaced supports lor slides positioned beneath said platen mechanismforms a slidable support for a drawer adapted to receive and have stacked therein documents delivered to it by said platen mechanism after they have been exposed.

8. In, a photographic device, a casing having at least one rectangular opening in a side wall thereof, and a pair of spaced slides extending inwardly from said opening, a unitary structure carried on said slides, said structure being in the form of a drawer and including; a horizontal base forming a support, a vertical panel secured to one end of said base and forming a front plate for said drawer, a vertical plate secured to said base in spaced relation to said panel, a second vertical plate mounted on said base and extending from said panel to said first vertical plate to divide the space between the latter into two com-v partments, hinged means secured to the top of said second plate, means mounted on and extending from one face of said second plate into one of said compartments for supporting and moving film, driving means mounted on the opposite face thereof and consequently positioned in the other of said compartments for operating said film moving means, said driving means extending through said second plate from the opposite face thereof and including a clutch for controlling said film moving means, a solenoid operatively connected to said clutch, said clutch and said solenoid being positioned in said second compartment, a cover connected to said hinged means and cooperating with said first plate, said panel said support and to said vertical plate, a back plate and carrying a handle secured to both the other end of said support and to said vertical plate, wherebyl two separate compartments are formed, a hinge member mounted on said first mentioned plate, an L-shaped cover hinged to said hinge plate and adapted to cooperate with said front and back plates and said base to form a light-tight closure for one of said compart.

ments, a second L-shaped cover hinged to said hinge plateand adapted to cooperate with said front and back plates and saidbase to form a light-tight closure for the other of said compartments, means mounted on one face of said verti cal plate and extending into one of said compartments for supporting and moving film, driving means positioned in the other of said compartments and extending through said vertical plate for operating said film moving means, said driving means including a clutch also positioned in said second compartment, and a solenoid operatively connected to said clutch for controlling the moving of said film, said first cover being adapted to be used to gain access to said means for supporting and moving film without disturbing the mechanism in the other compartment, and said second cover being adapted to be used to gain access to the mechanism in said second compartment without disturbing said means for supporting and moving film.

10. In a device of the character described, a vertical cabinet having a plurality of openings formed in one wall thereof at different levels, a plurality of spaced supports or slides oppositely disposed in said cabinet, one set being provided with each of said openings, a camera unit supported on one of said sets and adapted yto be slidably moved via said opening from a normal position inside the cabinet to a position accessible to an operator outside said cabinet, a panel rigidly mounted onssaid unit and adapted to form a closure for said last mentioned opening when said`camera 4is returned to its normal position within said cabinet, said panel also forming one wall of a light-tight casing housing the camera and mechanism forming part of said camera unit,

vertical cabinet having a plurality of openings formed in one wall thereof at different levels, a plurality of spaced supports or slides oppositely disposed in said cabinet, one set being provided with each of said openings, a camera unit supported on one of said sets and adapted to be slidably moved via said opening from a normal position inside the cabinet to a position accessible 15 to an operator outside said cabinet, a panel rigidly mountedv on said unit and adapted to form a closure for said last mentioned opening when said camera is returned to its normal position within said cabinet, said panel also forming one wall of a light-tight casing housing the camera and mechanism forming part of said camera unit, a second panel spaced apart from said rst panel and forming the opposite wall of said light-tight casing, a third panel between said rst and said second panels and substantially equally dividing the space between them, and a pair of oppositely disposed hinged covers cooperating with said panels to complete the enclosure of said lighttight casing, one of said covers being adapted to be raised to gain access to said camera, and the other being adapted to be raised to gain access te'- said mechanism.

12. In a device ci the character described, a vertical cabinet, a plurality oi sets of spaced supports or slides disposed at several levels within said cabinet, openings formed in said cabinet at said levels, all of said openings being disposed one above the other in one wall thereof, a control panel positioned in one of said openings and carrying-illumination control means, a light tunnel and lamp unit xedly positioned within said cabinet behind said panel and including a plurality of lamps disposed on either side of said iight tunnel, said light tunnel being uniformly narrow along one vertical plane and being tapered along a second vertical plane at right angles to the first mentioned vertical plane, the upper end of said tunnel being substantially narrow and the lower end being substantially wide, a camera unit slidably supported on one of said sets and carrying a downwardly directed lens, said camera being adapted to be slidably moved from a normal position inside the cabinet with said lens in align ment with the upper end of said light tunnel to a position outside said cabinet and accessible to 16 an operator, and a platen unit slidably carried on another of said sets below said light tunnel and adapted to be slid outwardly from its normal position below said light tunnel via. another oi' said openings, said platen unit being adapted to move documents across the iield ot view of said camera as deilned by said light tunnel.

VERNEUR E. PRATI. GEORGE F. GRAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,001,598 Caps May 14, 1935 1,908,845 Hopkins May 16, 1933 1,994,091 Shwartz Mar. 12, 1935 v2,206,396 Glass et al July 2, 1940 2,300,625 Martin Nov. 3, 1942 1,413,245 Trautman Apr. 18, 1922 2,050,882 g FitzGerald Aug. 11, 1936 1,966,348 Hughey July 10, 1934 1,912,708 Hopkins June 6, 1933 2,177,135 Fessel Oct. 24, i939 1,794,091 Nystrom Feb. 24, 1931 2,251,570 Hessert Aug. 5, 1941 2,008,289 Mathieu July 16, 1935 2,066,876 Carpenter et al Jan. 5, 1937 2,295,368 Suomala Sept. 8, 1942 2,291,006 Stuart July 28, 1942 1,912,708 Hopkins June 6, 1933 2,129,326 Johnson Sept. 6, 1938 1,344,896 Jobke June 29, 1920 1,976,346 Hughey Oct. 9, 1934 1,957,889 Hopkins et al. May 8, 1934 2,292,825 Dilks, Jr Aug. 11, 1942 2,133,581 Simmon Oct. 18, 1938 2,335,956 Oiler Dec. 7, 1943 

